Now that I have your attention...This weekend we met our friends to drop off the wife's VW CC that they purchased from us since we are getting the new 435i M-Line xDrive.
Well, we rented a 2014 Chevy Impala to drive back. Here is where we were brought back to reality.
Disclaimer: This was on a "closed track" over a 5 hour "driving session" on closed roads...wink,wink.
So we head out and instantly realize the difference of European design and functionality and American design and functionality.
This thing was like driving with rubber bands from the rack and pinion to the tie rods and riding on a pogo stick!
The shifting was utterly ridiculous in how it had to search for gears and how long it took to come to speed.
Anything over 80 MPH was scary at best from what we are used to. Torque steer, the little amount of torque there was, was very prevalent.
The seats had bulges in places that people don't. The ergonomics were down right idiotic. I found myself reaching for every control in the car and trying to figure out the icons on the touchscreen to make things work.
To put it into better perspective, I drive an Toyota FJ Cruiser as a daily driver and it had better handling characteristics and drivability than this thing.
Did I mention I used to be a mechanic for the 3 big car makers in the states? They have advanced very slowly with the rest of the real car makers, unless you like mediocre vehicles that have a very good chance of killing you because the handling and suspension will actually cause you to wreck!
In closing...we are a spoiled breed to find the perfect brand of driving excitement. Best of the best ladies and gentleman...don't take it for granted.
Well, we rented a 2014 Chevy Impala to drive back. Here is where we were brought back to reality.
Disclaimer: This was on a "closed track" over a 5 hour "driving session" on closed roads...wink,wink.
So we head out and instantly realize the difference of European design and functionality and American design and functionality.
This thing was like driving with rubber bands from the rack and pinion to the tie rods and riding on a pogo stick!
The shifting was utterly ridiculous in how it had to search for gears and how long it took to come to speed.
Anything over 80 MPH was scary at best from what we are used to. Torque steer, the little amount of torque there was, was very prevalent.
The seats had bulges in places that people don't. The ergonomics were down right idiotic. I found myself reaching for every control in the car and trying to figure out the icons on the touchscreen to make things work.
To put it into better perspective, I drive an Toyota FJ Cruiser as a daily driver and it had better handling characteristics and drivability than this thing.
Did I mention I used to be a mechanic for the 3 big car makers in the states? They have advanced very slowly with the rest of the real car makers, unless you like mediocre vehicles that have a very good chance of killing you because the handling and suspension will actually cause you to wreck!
In closing...we are a spoiled breed to find the perfect brand of driving excitement. Best of the best ladies and gentleman...don't take it for granted.
